Tomorrow I have to do something I really, really don't want to do, but looks like I must. Buy a new car.
The plan was not to have to get a car until I could get the car I want, which would be an all-electric. However, I am having my hand forced as my Honda's relative value and cost of repair is making it too costly. There is very little wrong with it from a driving perspective, but there are some electrical issues, cracked windscreen and a broken fog light that will mean it won't pass inspection, forcing repairs that'll cost 20% of its worth.
I am still undecided if I will actually follow through and change, but tomorrow I will make the move to go to some car yards and see what they offer for a trade. If I don't do it soon, I will lose the motivation to check.
I don't really care what car I drive, but I am looking at perhaps a hybrid, since I can't afford a suitably sized electric. I am looking for a used car, but not too used. Probably a Toyota of some kind, as they are pretty reliable and boring. As a not-a-car-guy, it doesn't bother me much what I drive as long as it does what I need it to do with some comfort and safety.
The hybrids I have checked consume about 50% less fuel than my Civic does, and in a country where fuel prices are around 1.55€ a liter, that is significant for both pocket and environment as I cover about 15 - 20,000 kilometers a year. That is about 40 tanks a year which cost about 70€ each for a total of 2800. Not cheap.
We are definitely not in the position that a car should be bought, but we would be completely screwed if our current one keeps having issues or gets taken off the road, as I have to drive for my work to way out locations where there is no public transport. It is a weighing up of risk and liability at the moment and I am getting the feeling that the risk of the status quo is getting to the point I am uncomfortable with.
While I would love to one day have something like a Tesla3, it is just not on the cards at this time (unless Steem sees ATHs and then some more past that) unfortunately. I do not want to change to something that just replaces what I have though, as I would like it to offer me some kind of different life experience. While a hybrid is not a massive difference, it does at least give me a changed perspective of some kind and is a step in the right direction in my opinion. Not perfect, but it is opting into personal change rather than supporting the processes that need to change.
Still, I am not committed to the change-over yet, so this is more of an exploratory mission to see if I am willing. I don't get attached to cars, but I have been happy driving the Honda and it still drives well other than the niggling problems that seem to be getting more consistent.
Well change or no, tomorrow I will know more than today. One thing I do know now is, cars are stupid.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]